Putnam
and Hancock Counties form the heart of Georgia’s
scenic, historic piedmont region and complement each other with a
wealth of archaeology, culture, history, scenery and internationally
acclaimed recreation opportunities. GA 16, the core route of the
Historic Piedmont Scenic Byway through the rolling hills of both
Counties, either pass through or are very close to national forests,
wildlife management areas, scenic farmland, large recreation lakes,
large rivers, historic buildings and other sites, hundreds of old
cemeteries, Native American archaeological sites, parks, campgrounds,
trails (birding, hiking and biking), internationally acclaimed golf
courses as well as opportunities for horseback riding, hunting and
fishing. You may find President Bush fishing LakeOconee on one of his visits
here. Historic and scenic driving, biking and hiking loops off of GA
16 add to the experience. Your hearts and minds will travel through
time beginning with the creation of the unique Rock Eagle and Rock
Hawk effigies thousands of years ago. The journey continues through
the once dominant culture of the Creeks when today’s SR 16 was the
Okfuskee Trail, DeSoto’s adventures in 1540, pioneer settlements after
the Revolutionary War, Joel Chandler Harris and Uncle Remus, King
Cotton, the Civil War, Reconstruction, Amanda America Dickson,
Pulitzer Prize winner Alice Walker, the development of modern dairy
farming, horse racing and on to today’s many attractions. To
enhance your tour, obtain detailed maps from the Putnam Chamber of
Commerce (706-485-7701 or
epchamber@eatonton.com) and the Sparta-Hancock Museulem
(706-444-7462 or teen@mylink.net)